A COMMUNITY is in mourning after a motorcyclist died in a Bank Holiday racing event accident.

A COMMUNITY is in mourning after a motorcyclist died in a Bank Holiday racing event accident.

Keith Williams, 30, from Kingsley was competing in a race at the Darley Moor track near Ashbourne in Derbyshire when his bike left the circuit at a notorious accident blackspot known as Towny's Bend.

The vehicle then careered into a safety fence.

Paramedics were called but Mr Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. He is survived by his wife Sarah.

They were in the process of refurbishing the farmhouse at Old Farm, Roddy Lane and had been living in a caravan on site.

The family was this week too upset to talk about what happened, although neighbour and friend Chris Pemberton paid tribute to Mr Williams.

He said: 'I've known him since he was about 10. It's terrible. It's knocked us all for six the whole family and the lads that work here we all knew him.

'His dad came up and told us. When he told us, we stopped what we were doing. We all felt sick. We couldn't believe such a thing could happen.' Mr Pemberton, a farmer, added: 'He was a hard-working, genuine fellow and a good neighbour.'

Mr Williams worked for his father Norman Williams of Pecks Brow, Crowton, who owns a plant hire company.

The accident happened in front of hundreds of spectators from across the country.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Constabulary said: 'Mr Williams was taking part in a motorbike racing event when he failed to go round a bend.

'He collided with fencing and, as a result, suffered injuries which proved fatal. It was a tragic accident and there are no suspicious circumstances.' The race meeting was organised by the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Racing Club, which is based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

The club, whose members live mainly in Derbyshire, is the only one in the UK which owns its own race track.

In a statement, the club said: 'The Darley Moor Motorcycle Road Racing Club very much regrets the tragic accident in which a rider lost his life.

'The committee and members of the club extend their condolences to the relatives of the rider.

'Derbyshire Constabulary is conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner.'

The statement added: 'As is the case with all serious accidents, the Auto Cycle Union and the club are carrying out an investigation.

'Under these circumstances the club is unable to make any further comment at present.'